Chapter 18 - The Character Panel

David moved silently through the forest, his senses on high alert. It had been nearly a week since he actively used his "Battle Sense" skill all the time, a decision made after a near-fatal encounter with a shadow ravager. The beast had ambushed him out of nowhere, leaving him with deep gashes and forcing him to use a basic health potion from the system. The attack had been a wake-up call—he needed to be more prepared, more vigilant.Activating "Battle Sense" constantly while outside the mansion had been the solution. The skill heightened his awareness, allowing him to detect even the subtlest shifts in the environment. The downside was a mild headache that would plague him when he deactivated the skill, but a good night's sleep was enough to cure that. The benefits, however, far outweighed the discomfort. He became more efficient in hunting, and more importantly, he could counter any surprise attack.Over the past week, David had been relentless in his hunt. Shadow goats and shadow ravagers fell before him as he honed his stealth and night vision skills, each kill bringing him closer to his goal. The forest was no longer as daunting; he knew its rhythms, its dangers, and how to exploit them. His points steadily accumulated, the beasts he hunted went for a total of 234 after a week of hunting.Despite his growing prowess, David knew he needed better equipment. His current armor, while functional, offered little protection against the stronger beasts lurking in the forest. The idea of lightweight but durable armor began to take shape in his mind. He recalled the snake-like beast he had encountered recently, the Gloom Serpent. Its scales had been tough and would have made for excellent armor, but he had already exchanged them for points.The Gloom Serpent had been a formidable opponent. It was a sleek, black-scaled creature, its body rippling with muscle and coiled power. Standing at nearly 20 feet long, it was a high-silver-tier beast, a whole level above the shadow ravager. Its most dangerous feature, aside from its size, was its venomous bite. David had been lucky to survive the encounter, managing to land a fatal blow only because the serpent had been severely injured in a previous battle. The system had awarded him 145 points for the serpent, with his current total being 489.He was just a few points short of purchasing the character panel, a feature he had been eyeing for some time. The panel would provide him with vital information about his abilities, allowing him to plan his progress more strategically. As he headed back to the mansion, David kept his eyes peeled for any prey that might push his points over the threshold.That's when it happened. A projectile whizzed past him from the left, narrowly missing his head and striking a tree. The impact left a sizzling hole in the trunk, the wood bubbling and disintegrating from the corrosive liquid. David's "Battle Sense" had saved him again. His heart pounded as he scanned the area, searching for the source of the attack.There, in the shadows, he spotted it—the iguana-like beast he had seen before. It was hiding among the trees, its body blending seamlessly with the surroundings. Without his night vision skill, David would have never spotted it. The beast had a chameleon-like camouflage capabilities, its dark green scales with black stripes making it nearly invisible in the dense foliage.David quickly formulated a plan. He pretended not to see the creature, moving cautiously in its direction while dodging randomly to avoid another projectile. His sword, "Dragon's Fang," was at the ready. The iguana beast shot another acidic glob, but David was prepared this time, dodging it effortlessly. The creature began to move, slinking away to a new position, but David had anticipated this.He closed in on the beast, his movements calculated and precise. Just as the iguana was about to shift positions again, David threw his sword with all his might. The blade pierced the air and struck the beast's head with deadly accuracy, embedding itself deep into its skull. The creature thrashed for a moment before collapsing in a heap, its camouflage flickering as it died.David approached cautiously, retrieving his sword and ensuring the beast was truly dead. He placed the carcass in his storage space, deciding to dismantle it later at the mansion. The adrenaline still surged through his veins as he made his way back, constantly checking his surroundings for any beast that might have been in the area.Once safely inside the mansion, David set to work on the iguana's corpse. He planned to use its poison sac to craft poison bombs, which would be a valuable asset in future battles. The beast's scales and skin could also be used to create lightweight armor, something that offered both protection and mobility. The system estimated the cost at around 45 points, but David decided to put it off for now. First, he needed to dismantle the creature.The process was difficult, as the iguana's anatomy was unfamiliar to him. He worked slowly, careful not to puncture the poison sac or damage the valuable scales. Eventually, he managed to strip the beast of its useful parts, selling the rest to the system. The sale brought in an additional 14 points, finally pushing his total over 500.With a deep breath, David accessed the system and purchased the "Character Panel." The notification pinged in his mind, and a holographic screen appeared before him.System Notification: Character Panel Unlocked. Please assign a keyword to access this feature.David thought for a moment before a word came to mind, one he had heard often in popular games back home. It seemed fitting."Status," he said aloud.System Notification: Keyword Accepted. Character Panel Unlocked.A glowing screen materialized before him, displaying a comprehensive overview of his attributes, skills, and overall progress.David's eyes scanned the panel, absorbing the information as he tried to make sense of the numbers.Character PanelName: David

Race: Human

Rank: High Bronze

Level: Locked

Class: Locked

Points: 3

Strength: 22Agility: 28Endurance: 30Intelligence: 35Mana: 30/70Stamina: 40/90

Earth Affinity (Passive): Lv. 1Description: Increases control over earth-based magic. Enhances the effectiveness of earth-related spells and abilities.Earth Shield: Lv. 3Description: Makes a shield out of earth using mana. The hardness can be increased by using additional mana.Night Vision (Passive): Lv. 3Description: Grants the ability to see in darkness as if it were daylight. The clarity and range of vision increase with level.Battle Sense (Active): Lv. 3Description: Heightens awareness of the surroundings, enabling detection of threats and improved reaction times. Varying mental damage occurs upon increased strain.Stealth (Active): Lv. 1Description: Enhances the ability to move silently and remain undetected. Effectiveness increases with skill level.Item Identification (Active): Lv. 1Description: Identifies and provides details about items and their potential uses.Sword Mastery (Weapon Skill): Lv. 2Description: Proficiency in using the sword, increasing damage and accuracy.Appraisal:Basic (Active): Lv. 1Description: Gives brief description about all items that has been sold, bought or synthesized from the system.Health Regeneration: Basic (Passive): Lv. 1Description: Heals injuries at a faster pace, also heals internal injuries as well.

Armor: Shadow Goat Leather Armor (Durability: 65/100)Weapon: Dragon's Fang (Durability: 88/100)Cloak: Shadow Cloak (Durability: 45/50)Accessories: None

System Assistance: Provides real-time analysis, suggestions, and options during combat and exploration. Allows for point-based purchases and upgrades.Resource Synthesis: Allows the creation of items by combining materials, with costs varying based on item complexity.